Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-11-02
From the German.
A NOBLE VICTORY.

A NOBLE VICTORY
The waves break on the shore of the
North Sea. A sharp wind from the
North sweeps over it's surface, driving
the waves high before it. On their
crests rises and sinks the white foam
How the water surges forward, as if it
would rusl far into the land. But
again and again it retreats from the
white sand, only to return in haste tn:
next morning.
On the shore lies stretched out the
village of Husom. Every little house
stands by itself, often separated from
its neighbor s by wide space OF per-
haps fifty feet, which is generally made
into q garden, in which q few feeble
plants draw ascanty nourlshmentfrOm
the ground. With no less difficulty
do the inhabitants OF Husom manage
TO get their living. They are all 1sh,
ermen, and the sea is their real home.
on which they 60 out for miles to cast
their nets. When the sun shines on g.
smooth surface 1t Is an exhilarating
occupation, but when sudden storm
springs up while the boats arefar from
land, and fog settles down upon the
water like broad, heavy mantle,
then one understands how hard are
the conditions and the perpetual dan
ger attending the labor by which
these men earn their bread.
The sea runs high and most of the
boats have pulled in to land. Two
men are still working to save their
property In some way. They are
both young, large, vigorous men with
sunburned faces and toil-harGened
hands.
At last their boats too rest on the
shore firmly secured. LIARS" said
one OF the men, Strengthening up and
buttoning his short jacket, ''this will
be fierce blow to- night
The other nodded. cit is lucky that
none Oh us are out"
Meanwhile they have started home
ward, and stride along together in
silence. The only street of the village
Is quiet. 1t is dark, here and there
faint light cleaning from a little win
dow.
They are passing small house, and,
almost as II by g. secret agreement,
they approach and glance through
the lighted window to the inside. An
old man with white hair and beard
sits in a large armchair; his head has
fallen forward on his breast-a pic
Iure Of the life fast sinking to rest.
At the table, on the opposite side,
sits, in bright contrast. d young girl
.sewlng-a fresh, lovely face, til
round, rosy cheeks and luxurianv aair.
Kate Mason is the prettiest girl IN
the village, and the most Industrious,
ynor1 foil l0o lxS,
with earnest glance. Early and late
she Is busy, supporting herse and
father by her own hands.
The loiterers at the window have
turned and gone Oh their way At
toph.' and crossed the street to his
home. He had heard the reply to his
greeting and now waited and listened,
standing by the fence that enclosed
his little tract Of ground. Christoph
had not gone on, but had turned back
for what? Lars felt misgiving.
He. too, hastened back. The wind
drives full in his face, but he does not
heed. Now he hears Christoph's steps
Fbefore him, but cannot see, for it is
very dark. There stands the little
house where Katie Mason lives.
Christoph stands by the window.
Lars sees him plainly in the light of
the lamp that tails upon him. He
hears tap on the window, and now
Christoph has his hand on the door,
and it opens before him.
4'Thou, Christoph? What orin gs
thee so late ?" asked Katie, holding
on to the door, which the
storm was shaking.
81 was passing and saw thee sitting,
so | stopped to bid thee sleep WE'LL"
Thou dear" she said, putting out
her hand.
The wind seized the door thus set
free, and flung it wide open against
the wall But Christoph, using all his
strength, drew the girl into the
hall and closed the door. Lars grew
hot under his coarse jacket; hot in
spite of the clustering wind. He
stepped close to the door and heard
speaking within, but could not dis
tlngulsh anything. He waited, but
his heart filled with the pangs OF jeal-
ousy. How long he stood ne knew
not; it seemed an eternity to him.
At last the door opened and Christoph
stepped out. 'sSleep well, dear GIRL"
he whispered. 'Good-by, dear Chris
toph" The key was turned in the
Iock. Christoph went home the
Joy of love requited in his neart.
The other, too, turned homeward,
but a long time passed before he
reached the little house.
They had grown up together, Lars,
Christie III and Katie. The three had
played together continually as chill.
drep, and Katie would be carried by no
Others Or drawn on the sled by none
but Lars or Cnristoph. When they
grew larger they went 10 school to-
gether and were onfrmed together
In the little church OF the neighboring
village. No strife had ever come be-
tween them; never had the girl shown
whether she had preferred one of the